Cable clamp or connecter



J. BLACKBURN 2,017,887

CABLE CLAMP OR CONNECTER Filed' Nov. l, 1953 gymwazav Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UN1TED- STATES PATENT. t OFFICE 2,017,887 CABLE cmm'on ooNNEc'rEn Jasper Blackburn, Webster Groves, Mo'.` Application November 1, 193s, 'serial No. 896,193

c 1 claim. (c1. e4-126) This invention relates to clamps, splicers or connecters for use in jbining or connecting the ends of wire cables orthe like, such as the threeply wire cables commonly used in the installation of telephone and telegraph lines, or in the erection of highway guards, or similar structures.

The prime object of the invention is to provide in novel form, a simple and efficient clamp forthe-purposes referred to, the same including an elongated link having anV opening extended axially therethrough, the opening being straight- 1y angular in cross section and tapered from end to end, thus providing a socket, receptacle or cable-way for the inserted end of the multi-ply or multi-strand cable, the several twisted -or helical strands of which may be automatically straightened and spread asunder into the cor' ners of the socket through the mere act of inserting the cable end into the socket through the small f opening thereof and then twisting the cable reversely lto its winding, and a wedgeJ formed to iit complementarily into the socket of the link, between the parted strands of the cable, and wherebyithose strands may be forced, pinched and locked in place within their respective corners, the complemental formation of the wedge serving also to facilitate its proper installation and positioning within the socket.

Another object is to provide a clamp or connecter gof the kind described, the same including a link having an elongated opening therethrough, the opening being angular in cross section and tapered from end to end, thus form-l ing a socket, receptacle or cable-way for the end of a multi-ply cable, the "angular disposition oi' 4the walls of the socket serving to automatically straighten and spread asunder the several strands of the cable end inserted through the small end of thesocket, as the cable is twisted in the proper direction, and to position those strands severally into corners of the socket, and

ing an angular socket formed therein for the of .thel kind referredto, the same including a link havreception of the parted ends of amulti-ply cable, which said endsvmay be positioned separately into the angles or c'orners of the socket, and a complemental wedge for seating in the socket against the strands, for forcing the latter into 5 the said socket angles.

With these and such other objects and advantages in view as may be developed in the following speciiication, attention is now directed to thev accompanying drawing as constituting a part of i0 the specication, the same exemplifying certain preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein l Figure 1 is an elevation showing three of the connecters in use, two being joined vby a take-up l5 Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, f V showing the insertion of the end of the three- 25 ply cable into the socket of the link, the strands of the cable being parted and located inthe corners of the socket, and a complemental wedge` being inserted in the socket' between the parted strands of the cable for locking same in place. 30

Figure 4 isa transverse section on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail of the wedge, on the scalerepresented in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a transverse section of a modied 35 form of the invention, for accommodating a four-ply form of cable.

Figure 7 is a transverse section of still another modiiied form of the invention, for use upon two-ply cables.

As shown in Figures 1.to 5, the invention comprises an elongated link i formed with an opening 2 extended axially clear through the link from end to end, thisopening being straightly triangular in cross section to correspond with the three-ply cablel 3 upon which it is designed for use, and thus providing a separate corner or angle for each strand'and within which it may be .pinched and locked. Thisopening 3 is tapered from end to end, as shown, and forms at the smaller end a socket or receptacle 4 for one end of thecable which is'to be inserted into the socket through this end, as represented in Figures 1 and 3. At the opposite and larger end of the opening, the walls thereof are turned and tapped-as shown at 5, for the engagement Aof the threaded end of a take-up rod 6 or 6a. A sight aperture or peep-hole 'I is formed through one side of the link and communicates with the opening 2, whereby an operator is enabled to view the interior arrangement and adjustment of lthe elements. A wedge 8 is provided, the same being generally triangular in cross section and tapered from end to end complementarily to the form of the. socket 4, the wedge having tapered side faces 9 adapted to align with the corresponding inner faces I0 of the socket, the corners of the wedge being cut away on concaved lines, as shown at I I, to accommodate the three cable strands 3a, 3b, 3c, which in the use of the device are straightened and spread asunder and locked one in each corner or angle Illa of the triangular socket, as already referred to and as clearly shown in Figure 4.

In the use of 'the clamp or connecter as described, the cable end 3 is inserted well into the socket through the smaller end thereof, as shown in Figure 3. By then twisting the cable reversely to the normal' turn or lay of th'e strands, these strands 3a, 3b, 3c come into contact with the faces I0 of the socketand are caused automatically to straighten and spread asunder and enter each into a separate corner of the socket, as represented matically adjust itself to its seat, and by thepeep-hole 1, through which the operator may readily inspect the adjustment of the elements. The wedge being then driven-home with a hammer, or in any conventional manner, the several strands 3a, 3b, 3c, are severally crowded, pinched and locked in place within their respective corners of the socket, the converging sides thereof conducing eectually to this purpose and result.

for the engagement of a take-up rod or bar 6 or 6a.

The use and operation of the clamps, with or without the take-up rods 6 and 6a, is apparent rod 6a engages at one end the clamp Ib, the oppo- 5 site end being passed through a post I2 and provided with the nut I3 at the outer side of the post.- The cable ends 3 being properly locked within the clamps in manner already -pointed out,

the heads I4 of the rods may be turned with a 10 wrench as desired fortightening or loosening the cables. The link I may be faced as shown at I5 to facilitate the use of a wrench thereupon.

Figure 6 shows a modified form of the clamp Im, as adaptable for use upon a four-ply cable hav- 15 ing the strands 3ma, 3mb, 3mc, 31nd. For this purpose the socket 4m is made rectangular instead of triangular, and the wedge 8m is made complemental thereto. Figure 7 shows another modification In, designed for use upon a two-ply 2o cable having the strands 311,0., 311.17. In this form, the socket 411. is diamond shaped and provides two corners or angles Ilma for the engagement of the two strands 3110. and 3nb. The use and operation of the forms of Figures 6 and 7 are essentially the 25 same as for the first described or triangular-form. These several forms are all based upon the crosssectional angularity ofthe sockets, .whereby-corners or angles are provided for the reception of the separated strands of the cable, and within 30.

which corners or angles those strands may be pinched and locked against movement through the action of the wedges. In actual practice and use, the forms described are found to be veryv effective for the purposes referred to. 35

I claim:

In a clamp for use upon the end of a three strand cable and comprising a link having a tapered socket triangular in cross-section extended straightly therethrough and a comple- 40 mental wedge for locking the separated strand ends each into a separate angle of the socket, the provision of a peep-hole through one wall of the link adjacent the larger end of the socket of the link, the said peep-hole communicating with the 45 socket for facilitating the adjustment of the separated strand ends into andrelative to the angles 1 of the socket and of the wedge relative to the .strand ends. I

JASPER BLACKBURN. 50 

